Trolley-signal.



PATENTED mac. 5, 1905.

B. H. ROBERTS. I TROLLEY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 5, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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TROLLEY SIGNAL." APPLICATION FILED 00w. 5, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

11457166668. I I ji zz/ezziary BENJAMIN H. ROBERTS, or HAVERHILL,MASSACHUSETTS.

TROLLEY-SIGNAL. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

IPatented. Dec. 5, 1905.

Application filed 0ot0'ber 5, 1905. Serial No. 281,39

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN H. ROBERTS, of 'Haverhill, county ,ofEssex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inTrolley-Signals, of whichthe following de-' scription, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters onthe drawings representing like parts. This invention relates to thatclass of automatic trolley-signals in which means are pro-,

vided whereby when any number of cars within certain limits entera blockat one end the first car entering will cause signals to. be setautomatically at each end, which signals will notjbe changed until allthe cars have left the block. I

My invention has for its object to simplify prior signaling systems ofthis nature and to provide mechanism which will operate with certaintyand which is unlikely. to get out of order. I accomplish this object bythe means shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of my invention.-Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the step-by-step actuator and lock-1 ingand releasing mechanisms. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.- Fig. 4c isadetail view of. the circuit closing and locking mechanism. Figs. 5 and6 are opposite diametrical central sectional views of the locking-wheel.

Before describing the circuits I will describe the step-by-stepactuating and releasing mechanisms and the circuit closing and lockingmechanism.

A and A indicate apair of oppositely-dis! posed electromagnets, betweenwhich an armature a is located, said armature being mounted on a pivot aand movable thereon from the full-line middle position'of Fig. 4

toward either magnet to either dotted position shown in the same figure,springs a a being provided at opposite sides of said armature forholdingthe same in its middle position. The free end of said armature extendsbetween two circuit-closing devices a and a, which are adapted to beengaged thereby when in either of the abnormal positions to which itmay' be moved by said electromagnets AA. A shaft 6 is mounted insuitable bearings directly above the armature and a locking-wheel 0 isrigidly mounted on said shaft, so that it rotates'in the'centrallongitudinal plane of the armature when the latter is in its middleposition, the center line of the armature-pivot a lying in said plane,so that the armature moves transversely thereof. Said wheel is providedwith a transverselyprojecting circular flange c at each side thereofadjacent its periphery or rim, and a recess 0 is formed in said flangeor rim which is of sufiicient width and depth to receive the upper orfree end portion of .the armature 0;. An abutmento is provided on thewheel at one side of said notch 0 and a wedge-shaped projection c isprovided at the other side of said notch, ;the edge of said wedge-shapedportion being radially'disposed in the central plane of the wheel. Theupper end of the armature is provided with a wedge-shaped portion a",which faces or is on the edge adjacent the Wedgeshaped projection 0*, sothat in the normal po- 1 sition of the parts the edges of saidwedgeshaped portions are parallel and in the central plane of rotationof wheel 0. A ratchet-wheel d is also rigidly mounted on the shaft 6,and an electromagnet E-is located adjacent thereto, its armature e'beingpivoted at e and having a pivoted toe-piece e at its end adaptedtoengage the ratchet-wheel 0L- A spring-pressed plunger 6 is provided inthe end of'the armature for holding the pivoted toe-piece e against ashoulder on the armature and permitting it to swing inwardly when thearmature is drawn away from its magnet by the spring a Areleasing-electromagnet F is also provided, said magnet having anarmature f, pivoted at f and connected by a link f to a lever f saidlever being pivoted in the middle on a pivot f and a spring f beingconnected thereto and acting to hold the armature f away from itsmagnet. A pair of escapement pawls f 5 f 6 are pivoted on a rod f andhave teeth disposed to engage the teeth of the ratchetwheel'd, andsprings f act to move said escapement pawls into engagement with saidwheel. The lever f isprovided at one end with an arm f which is {adaptedto engage the upper side of the escapQment-pawlf and at the other endwith an arm f, which is adapted to engage the other escapement-pawl fSaid arm f is located at the end of lever to which link f is connected,so that when magnet F is energized and'the armature f is drawn down theescapement-pawl f will be moved away from the ratchet-wheel and theescapement-pawl f willfbe drawn toward it, and when the magnet isdeenergized the opposite action willtake place. An ordinary clock-springg is provided, which encircles and is connected at one end to shaft 6,the op- IOO posite end being fixed so that it is adapted to actuate theshaft in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2.

In the diagrammatical View, 1 indicates the trolley-wire, and 1 and 1indicate switches at each end of a block, which are adapted to beoperated automatically by the trolley-pole of a car as it enters orleaves the block at either end. The switch 1 is normallyheld midwaybetween the contact-points 2 and 31, and the,

switch 1 is normally held between the contact-points 18 and 22, but outof contact therewith in each instance. When a car enters the block goingin the direction of the arrow 00, the switch 1 will be thrown so thatthe trolley-wire will be electrically connected with the contact-point2. From this point the current will pass through wire 3 and energize themagnetA and swing the armature a to the lefthand dotted position of Fig.4. The current continues from the magnet Athrough Wires 4 and 5 to themagnet E and thence through wires 6 7 to the ground 8, causing it todraw down the armature e and bring the toe-piece 0 into engagement withthe first tooth of the ratchet, causing the shaft Z) to be rotated tothe extent of one notch. This causes the locking-wheel 0 to be rotatedto the same extent, and as the armature a will have been drawn to theleft and to one side of the V-shaped projection 0* the lefthand edge ofthe rim 0 will be carried by the rotation of the shaft into engagementwith the adjacent side of the armature co, so that when the circuitthrough magnetA is broken upon the movement of the car out of engagementwith the switch 1 the armature, which would otherwise be permitted toreturn to its middle position, will continue to be held in saidleft-hand position. As the parts areconstructed the armature a must movesome distance before its toe-piece comes into engagement with the toothof the ratchet, and although the magnets A and E are energizedsimultaneously the armature a will have been moved some distance to theleft before the toe-piece e engages the wheel and begins to turn theshaft 1). As the edge of the armature a and the projection 0 on thewheel are wedge-shaped, it will be apparent that even if the armature isnot moved to its extreme left-hand position by the time the shaft 72begins to turn yet the oblique surfaces of the armature and wheel whichmay come in engagement will'not permit the armature to obstruct therotation of the wheel to a material extent, and the wedge-shapedprojection 0* will force the armature into its extreme side position ifit has not been already drawn to this position by its magnet. The wheelwill be turned until its flat side bears against the flat side of thearmature and locks the latter in this position, the shaft being heldagainst backward rotation by the pawl f When the armature a is moved tothe left-hand position, the circuit-closer a will be thrown so as toconnect the wires 10 and 13, permitting the current toilow from thetrolley-wire through wires 9, 10, and 13, lighting the white light m atthe end of the block at which the car is entering. Then the currentpasses on through the wire 14, lighting the red light a at the oppositeend of the block and passes to the ground. As other cars subsequentlypass onto the block the magnet E will be energized, causing its armatureto rotate the shaft 5 one notch for each car so passing on, theconditions otherwise remaining unchanged. The first car to leave theblock at the opposite end will move the switch 1 so as to connect thetrolley-wire with the contact-point 18, permitting the current to iiowthrough the wires 19 and 20 to energize the releasing-magnet F, and asthe armature f is drawn downwardly one tooth of the ratchet: wheel dwill be released, permitting it to be turned backward by its spring g tothat e.

tent, the other conditions above described remaining the same. As thecar leaves the block one tooth of the ratchet-wheel will be released,and when all the ears have passed from the block the locking-wheel 0will have been returned to its initial position, so that the armature amay then be moved to its normal or middle position, breaking the circuitthrough lights on and n. hen a car enters the block going in theopposite direction to the arrow, the circuit-closer 1 will connect thetrolley wire with the contact-point 22, and the current will pass fromthis point through the wire 23 and through the magnet A, energizing thesame and moving the armature (t to the right-hand dotted position ofFig. 4:. The current passes on through the wire 24, which is connectedto the wire 4: and thence on through the wires and magnet E to theground, as before described. The actuating-magnet E being energizedcauses the ratchet-wheel, and consequently the locking-wheel, to berotated forwardly, moving the latter so that it will hold the armature ain the right-hand position to which it has been moved. This movement ofthe armature causes the cireuitcloser a to connect the wire 25 with thewire 28, and as the wire 25 is connected to the wire 9 leading from thetrolley-wire the current will be carried on through the wire 28,throwing on the red light 0 at the opposite end of the block, and onthroughthe wire 29 and the white light 1) at the end of the block atwhich the car is entering, and so on to the ground through the wire 16.The shaft will be rotated forwardly one notch for each succeeding carwhich goes onto the block in the same manner as that heretoforedescribed. When the ears leave the block going in the opposite directionto the arrow, the circuitcloser 1 connects the trolley-wire to thecontact-point 31, and the current is thence carried through the wire 20to the releasing-magnet j, so that the sprocket-wheel will be turnedback one hotch'as'ea'ch car leaves the block,'

been locked by the car which has already en-l tered at the opposite end,the effect would simply be to turn the ratchet-wheel one notch, and ifit was then backed off the block the releasing-magnet would be operated,releasing the ratchet-wheel one notch, so that the conditionsestablished by the entrance of the.

other car at the opposite end of the block would not be disturbed. Inother words, contact-points 2 and 22' are both connected to theactuating-magnet E, so that said'magnet will be energized and the wheel(1- advanced one notch whenever a car enters the block at either end.and points 18 and 31 are both connected to the step-by-s'tepreleasing-magnet F, so that the latter magnet will be energized and the,wheel d released one notch each time a car leaves the block'ateitherend.The first car entering the block willset the-signal against a car at theoppositeend and the signal will' not be changedunder any condition untilall cars have left the block. 1

From the foregoing it will be apparent that all the apparatus may belocated in a single box at one end of therblock, which apparatus willcontrol the signal=lights at both ends;

thereof. 1 It will also be observed that all the magnet-operatingcircuits are connected with the source of electrical supply at thetrolleywire and that these circuits are'always dead exceptduringtheshort space of timein'which a car is operating the circuit-closer, sothat in case any of these wires should become grounded the magnets wouldnot be operated nor the signal-lamps lighted; Thecircuit-closers for thesignal-circuits are alsolocated but a short distance from thetrolley-wire, so that the portion of the circuits which lead through thesignal-lamps is normally dead.

While the returning-spring for turning back the shaftb of thestep-by-step locking device and the escapement-lpawls may be omitted andan electromagnetically-operated actuating device similar to' theactuating device already described may be substituted therefor, yet Iprefer to employ the former, for the reason that then the ratchet-wheelwill always beheld at a certain point at the end of each. actuation ineither direetion-that is, the spring will always be pressing one of theteeth of the ratchet-wheel into engagement with one of theescapement-pawls.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is e 1. In a trolley-signal, a signal-settingmagnet, its armature, a step-by-step locking device for said armature,an actuating-magnet and a releasing-magnet for said step-by-step device,.a circuitfor said signal-setting and said actuating magnet, a circuitfol-said releasingcuit for each signal-setting magnet, and a cirleasingmagnet magnet, and a trolley-operated switch at each end of the blockfor one of said circuits, sub-. stantially as described.

2. In a trolley-signal, a pair of signal-setting magnets, an armaturetherefor, movable thereby to different positions to set oppositesignals,a' step-by-step locking device for said armature, an actuating-magnetand a releasing-magnet for said step-by-stkap device, a circuit'for saidactuating-magnet in series with each of said circuits, a circuit forsaidreleasing-magnet, and a trolley-operated switch at each end of theblockfor closing one of said signal-setting-magnet circuits andsaidactuating-magnet circuit, and for closing said recircuit,substantially as de-" scribed. c i

3. In a trolley-signal, a pairof signal-setting magnets, anarmaturetherefor, movable therebyto different positions'to set opposite signals,a step-by-step locking device for said armature, an actuating-magnet anda releasing-magnet for said step-by-step device, acircuit for eachsignal-setting'magnet, and a circuit for said actuating-magnet injserieswith each of'said circuits, a'circuit for. said releasing-magnet, a pairof contacts at eachend of the block, one contact of each pair being inone of the signal-setting circuits. and the other contacts beingrin saidreleasing-magnet circuits, and .a double-acting trolley-operated switchfor connecting each contact with the trolley-wire to close one of saidsignal-setting circuits, and said actuating-magnet circuit when a carenters the block at either end and to closesaid releasing-magnet circuitwhen a car leaves the block at either end, substantially as described.

4. In a trolley-signal, a pair of oppositelydisposed signal-settingmagnets, an armature thereformovable to opposite positions there- Ibetween to set opposite signals, a step-by-step locking device movableto lock the armature in either of said positions, an actuating-magnetand areleasing-magnet for said step-bystep device, a circuit for eachsignal-setting magnet and a; circuit for said actuating-mag net, inseries with each of saidcircuits, a circuit for said releasing-magnet,and atrolleyoperated switchat each end of the block for closing one ofsaid signal-setting-magnet cir-: cuits and said actuating-magnetcircuit, and for closing said releasing-magnet circuit, substantially asdescribed. a

5. In a trolley-signal, a pair of oppositelydisposed signal-settingmagnets, an armature therefor movable to opposite positions therebetweento set opposite-signals, a wheel rotatably mounted in the plane ofthe'middle p.91 sition of the armature andat right angles to thepath ofmovement thereof, said wheel having a notched periphery in which aportion of the armature is located when the latter is in its normalposition, an actuating-magnet and a releasing-magnet for said wheel,circuits for;

all of said magnets, and trolley-operated switches at each end of theblock for closing said circuits, substantially as described.

tably mounted in the plane ofthe middle position of the armature and atright angles to the path of movement thereof, said wheel having anotched periphery in which a portion of the armature is located when thelatter is in its normal position, means for rotating said wheel step bystep in opposite directions comprising an actuating-magnet and areleasingmagnet, circuits for all of said magnets and trolley-operatedswitches at each end of the block for closing said circuits,substantially as described.

7. In a trolley-signal, a pair of signal-setting magnets, an armaturetherefor movable to opposite positions therebetween to set oppositesignals, a locking device movable into the middle position of thearmature to lock the latter in either of its extreme positions, and anactuating-magnet therefor, means for operating either one of saidsignal-setting magnets and said actuating-magnet simultaneously,andmeans whereby movement of said locking device will be delayed untilthe armature has been moved from its middle position, substantially asdescribed.

-8. In a trolley-signal, a pair of signal-setting magnets, an armaturetherefor movable to opposite positions, therebetween to set oppositesignals, a locking device movable transversely of the path of movementof the armature into the middle position thereof to lock it in either ofits extreme positions, an

actuating-magnet'for said locking device, said locking device andsaidarmature each having oppositely disposed, tapering projections adaptedto engageon their inclined surfaces, and means for energizing either oneof said signal-setting magnets and said actuating-magnet simultaneously,substantially as described.

9. In a trolley-signal, asignal-setting magnet, its armature, astep-by-step locking device for said armature, a pair of independentlyand electromagneticallyoperated actuating devices for moving saidlocking device in opposite directions, circuits for said magnet and saidactuating devices, and a trolleyoperated switch at each end ofthe block,one for the circuit of said signal-setting magnet and one for saidactuating devices and the other for the circuit of the other actuatingdevice, substantially as described.

10. In a trolley-signal, asignal-setting magnet, its armature, arotatably-mounted stepby-step locking device for said armature,comprising a ratchet-wheel, an actuating-pawl, and a magnet foroperating said pawl, a spring for turning said Wheel in opposition tothe action of said pawl, an escapement for said ratchet-w heel and amagnet for operating said escapement, a circuit for said signal-settingmagnet and said pawl-actuating magnet, a circuit for saidescapement-operating magnet, and a trolley-operated switch at each endof the block for one of said circuits, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN H. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

L. H. HARRIMAN, H. B. DAVIS.

